"World's most complete known witch bottle" found in Greenwich, England

Submitted by Milica on Thu, 2009-07-02 13:45
A "witch bottle," constructed according to known recipes from 16th and 17th century England, has been found buried upside-down in Greenwich, England. The bottle contains urine, nail clippings, hair and pins, and is believed to be an anti-witchcraft device.

Analysis by by Richard Cole of the Leicester Royal Infirmary, reveals "the contents of the bottle to include human urine, brimstone, 12 iron nails, eight brass pins, hair, possible navel fluff, a piece of heart-shaped leather pierced by a bent nail, and 10 fingernail clippings." Unlike previously-discovered witch bottles, the contents of this bottle are intact, giving researchers insight into the practices and superstitions of the time.